The British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation originated in the early 1970's, in response to a demonstrated need in BC for greater government-industry communications in the area of environmental protection and reclamation associated with mining.

Due to TRCR collaboration with the successful Mine Closure Conference in Vancouver, BC concluded in May 2015, in December, 2015, the 2014 Mine Reclamation awards for outstanding achievement in Reclamation were presented by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Elaine McKnight.

The 2014 Metal Mine Reclamation Award was awarded to Huckleberry Mines Ltd. for its habitat compensation works in the form of successful remediation of fish-ways in a local creek in the vicinity of the Huckleberry copper mine near Houston, BC. Huckleberry was also recognized for engaging local Aboriginal communities in its mine reclamation planning. The award was presented to Hiroyuki Tarumi (President), Randall Thompson (Chief Operating Officer), and Marke Wong (Environmental Superintendent) of Huckleberry Mines Ltd.

The 2014 British Columbia Jake McDonald Mine Reclamation Award and was presented to Valley Gravel Sales Ltd. for reclaiming three Abbotsford, BC gravel pit properties between 2010 and 2013 to a standard where agricultural capability is equal to or superior to the capability prior to extraction. The major award was presented to Barry McLean of Valley Gravel Sales Ltd.

Jake McDonald Scholarship Awards:

The TRCR is also pleased to award the 2015 Jake McDonald Scholarship Awards to five recipients: Estefania Milla Morono from the University of British Columbia; Michelle Phillips from Thompson Rivers University (TRU); Glenn Sidewell also from TRU; Sarah Whitehouse from TRU, and Osvaldo Vega from the University of British Columbia. These students were sent their awards by mail and two of the recipients were able to attend the December event in Vancouver.